Despite the fact that Westerns have sort of fallen off the map in recent years, there has existed a few bright spots, such as Kevin Costner's "Open Range". The picture, a project Costner was passionate about and invested a great deal of energy in, was a tense and well-acted piece that grossed considerably more at the box office than many expected.

Costner also makes an appearance in Lawrence Kasdan's "Silverado", a now 20-year-old Western that stands as one of the shining examples of the genre - a big, entertaining ride that still manages to present the grand scope and staples of the old-school classics in the genre.

There's not a great deal to the story, but it's the kind of Western tale that fits as comfortably as an old shoe. Paden (Kevin Kline) and Emmett (Scott Glenn) find themselves heading to break out Paden's younger, wilder brother (Kevin Costner). The two became friends when Emmett saved Paden after he was left in the desert. After a jail break, Paden's brother joins the duo, as does Mal (Danny Glover), a black man fighting against racism in the West.

All of the men are headed to the town of Silverado for various reasons, but all of them will run up against the town's evil sheriff (Brian Dennehy). Kasdan's film manages a superb balance between scenes of tense Western action and character moments - the film's drama doesn't overwhelm the fun of the film, but story and character don't take a backseat, either. The picture is magnificently scored by Bruce Broughton and John Bailey's beautiful 'scope cinematography is classic.

The performances are also excellent. Rarely throughout his career has Costner appeared to be having this much fun, and Kevin Kline and especially Scott Glenn deliver terrific performances. Danny Glover also delivers a very fine effort, as well. Rosanna Arquette doesn't have a whole lot to do in a supporting role, but John Cleese and Brian Dennehy are superb.

Overall, "Silverado" is a Western with the classic elements and flavor intact, yet it takes all the classic elements and manages to still stand out on its own. The performances, writing and direction are fantastic, and the picture's action and drama are definitely engaging.